Wars of Italy - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

The wars of Italy are a succession of conflicts carried out by the sovereign French in Italy during the 16th century to take advantage of their hereditary rights on the Royaume of Naples, then on the Duché of Milan.

Charles VIII prepared the first war of Italy with the treated of Étaples in 1492, the treated of Barcelona in January 1493 and the treated of Senlis, in May 1493.

Origins

The Kingdom of Naples, until in 1442, is with the hands of the family of Anjou, house junior by Capétiens. On this date, the Aragon with the king Alphonse V takes control of it. The family of Anjou then tries without slackening to take again possession of it. Its last representative, Rene of Anjou dies in 1480: its rights on the Royaume of Naples pass then to the France, on the throne of which reign, as of 1483, Charles VIII. In 1486, certain barons of the kingdom of Naples, remained faithful to Angevins, revolt. Overcome they take refuge in France. The French monarchs then will try to take advantage of their rights during nearly 60 years.

Moreover, Charles VIII was incited to go to Italy by Ludovic More, which is then tutor of the duke of Milan Jean Galéas Sforza. Ludovic More is anxious possible rupture of balance in Italy: the alliance formed as of 1467 by Florence, Milan and Naples, to fight against the Venetian power, beats wing and Pierre II the Unfortunate one, the successor of Laurent Splendid the approaches the kingdom of Naples.

First wars of Italy: of Charles VIII in Marignan

First war of Italy (1494-1497)

Combined with Duchy of Milan, and under pretext of to carry out news Crusade against Ottoman Empire and to deliver Jerusalem (pretext that even its contemporaries did not believe), Charles VIII share of Grenoble and crosses the collar of Montgenèvre the September 2nd 1494. The kingdom of Naples have-bequeathed to his/her father Louis XI by Charles of Maine, died in 1481 and nephew of Rene of Anjou. Charles VIII has to make the large ones seeks in the files to prove the cogency of its claims, more especially as the aforementioned house angevine lost its Neapolitan possessions in 1442. This legacy includes/understands also the Royaume of Jerusalem, which will be occupied by the Mamelukes until in 1517!. Three diplomatic treaties ensures France the neutrality of the Spain by the treaty of Barcelona in 1492 (Ferdinand d' Aragon recovers the Provence), of the England by the treaty of Etaples in 1493 (against much of ecus) and of Maximilien by that of Senlis in 1493. At the time this these last agreements Charles VIII gives up Frank the County, dowry of old promised in marriage of the king Marguerite of Austria, but that Maximilien already recovered.

The French Army which penetrates in Italy is made up of the close guard of the king, formed by two hundred riders, a cavalry of 1 600 lances , 12 000 infantrymen (of which 6 000 Swiss and 3 000 Gascons) and especially a Artillery of 70 parts, light and handy, drawing from the balls of bronze or copper with hundred blows per hour.

The French advance quickly and they reach the town of Asti the September 9th. In parallel, at Rapallo, close to Genoa, the troops free-Milanese women ordered by Louis of Orleans, supported by the French marine, put in rout an army of 5 000 Aragoneses, coldly unloaded in the port of Genoa. Patient - it with the Small pox - Charles VIII cannot penetrate in Genoa before the October 6th.

The French Army continues then in direction of Naples: the October 20th, the French take Mordano, in Romagna, and massacre there civil and soldiers; the 26 it is the borough of Fivizzano which undergoes the same fate. The Italians are terrorized, and after negotiation, Florence is taken without combat the November 17th. The French leave it the 28 same month and enter Rome the December 31st. During this time, a popular revolution transformed the Florence Médicis into a republic which will survive until in 1512.

Mid-February 1495, the king of Naples, Alphonse II, abdicates and Ferdinand II succeeds to him. This last must flee in front of the arrival of the French troops the February 22nd 1495. The military occupation of Naples is the occasion for many soldiers to contract an evil hitherto unknown: the Syphilis.

The arrogance of the occupant causes the hostility of the population. An alliance anti-Frenchwoman, the League of Venice, is formed. Charles VIII decides to leave Naples, which it does the May 20th 1495 with the large one of his army. Gilbert de Montpensier, become viceroy, remains there as a governor with the head of a French garrison.

Remained in Lombardy with part of the troops, Louis of Orleans, although it received the order not to attack Ludovic More, duke of Milan, cannot resist emulously to seize Novare. It enters there the June 10th 1495 and is very received there by the inhabitants. However, he does not undertake to take Milan whereas the city is without defense and that its inhabitants most would have also probably accommodated it with open arms.

However, the return towards France of Charles VIII is carried out under difficult conditions. The king, having left Naples with a decreased army (it has nothing any more but 9 000 men with him), makes cross to large-sorrow the the Apennines to its artillery and arrives close to Fornoue the July 5th. Caught up with by the united, strong army of 35 000 men and ordered by the marquis de Mantoue, François II, Charles VIII are obliged to accept the combat. The July 6th was held the Bataille of Fornoue where the French, in spite of their numerical inferiority, gained a relative victory which enabled them to continue their retirement.

The army arrived at Asti in a state of unquestionable decay. Louis of Orleans, being made lock up with its troops in Novare by the 30 000 men of Ludovic More and being in prey with the famine, called his/her cousin with the assistance. This one, not holding rigor of its insubordination to him, left to its help.

Negotiations opened between the two parts which led to the Paix of Verceil signed the October 9th 1495. Louis of Orleans evacuated Novare with its 5 500 men mainly Suisses including one great number, too weakened, died shortly after. The treaty of Verceil, under the appearance of advantages, granted to the king chimerical hopes and left all that it offered of solid to the duke of Milan, by guaranteeing its usurpation to him.

During this time, the French left on the remains of the kingdom of Naples fought to preserve the possession of it. Ferdinand II, having unloaded in Calabria, besieged them in Naples. Montpensier had contained himself in the castles while waiting for the helps of France. Those were long in arriving because on the one hand Ludovic More had deceived the French in their promising, with the treaty of Verceil, a fleet to forward their troops to Naples, fleet of which they never transfer the color and because on the other hand Charles VIII was with money court. Its dispatch cost in Italy would have being partially covered by gifts which Florentins had made him. However these gifts were conditioned with the return under Florentin control of the fortified towns which they had lent to the king, and those were finally sold with Lucques, Venice, Genoa or Pisa, following the treason of the French commander in Toscane, Robert de Balsac. Charles VIII thus saw himself constrained to refund the loans florentins and did not accept the new payments that Florence should have made him.

Gilbert de Montpensier, in cause of despair, embarked with almost all his garrison and went to Salerno. The army of the count, mainly made up of German and Italian mercenaries, often missing vivres and not having received its pay since strong a long time, was made lock up, by Ferdinand II in the small town of Atella. Under these conditions, part of the German mercenaries made defection, which pushed the French with the capitulation. The French Army selected captive was decimated by the disease and the hunger.

The Spain had engaged in the Ligue of Venice in violation of the treated of Barcelona of (January 19th 1493) by which the Roussillon was yielded to him. In order to support its allies, Ferdinand II of Aragon attacked the Languedoc on several occasions running 1496. Negotiations in order to obtain a peace separated with Spain occupied part of the year 1496, all the year 1497 and the beginning of 1498, leading to the signature of the truce of Alcala de Henares the November 24th 1497.

Charles VIII always eager to reconquer the Royaume of Naples maintained the intelligences with the princes of Italy whose states could open the way of Naples again to him. However, the duke of Orleans contributed to give birth to from the obstacles vis-a-vis the projects of the king who died in 1498 without to have been able exaucer his dreams of revenge.

Second war of Italy (1499-1500)

Louis of Orleans, become Louis XII, inherited the rights of Valois on the Kingdom of Naples. He also estimates to have rights on the Duchy of Milan, his grandmother being a Visconti. Advised by the archbishop of Rouen, Georges d' Amboise, Louis XII prepares his countryside in Italy thoroughly. It approaches the Borgia initially because it needed the support of the pope Alexandre VI in order to cancel his marriage with Jeanne de France to marry the widow of Charles VIII, Anne of Brittany, and to thus preserve the duchy of Brittany. César Borgia brings the pontifical bubble granting the cancellation of the marriage. In reward, the king of France grants to the messenger the duchy Valentinois as well as the hand of Charlotte d' Albret, sister of king de Navarre, which satisfies the pope who wishes to place all the members of his family on a European scale. Louis XII also approaches the République of Venice with which it signs the Traité of Blois the February 2nd 1499 according to which it promises the area of Crémone if it intervenes at the side of France. The March 16th 1499 is signed the Traité of Lucerne between the Swiss France and Cantons. And finally, he concludes from the agreements with the king from England and future king de Castille, Philippe the Beautiful and the Swiss Cantons. The duke of Milan was thus completely isolated.

The French ordered by the condottiere Gian Giacomo Trivulzio and the Venetian ones attack the duchy of Milan in July 1499. Ludovic More not receiving any support of the Emperor and being attacked on two faces, takes refuge with the the Tyrol. Trivulzio occupies Milan the September 2nd 1499. Genoa also falls into the hands from king de France. Louis XII joined Trivulzio in Milan then sets out again for his kingdom, leaving the protection of the duchy to his general. Ludovic Sforza reconstitutes an army and takes again Milan in March 1500.

Louis XII sends Trémoille and Georges d' Amboise to reconquer the duchy of Milan. Ludovic More not having paid its mercenaries, the latter refuse to fight the French and delivers to them even their chief with Novare the April 10th 1500. Ludovic Sforza is taken along in captivity to France where he will die in 1508. Louis XII names the cardinal Georges d' Amboise governor of Milan.

Third war of Italy (1500-1504)

Once acquired the Duchy of Milan, Louis XII turns to the Royaume of Naples. Once again, it obtains the support of the pope Alexandre VI which reproaches the king de Naples Frederic for being allied to the Turks. The November 11th 1500, Louis XII signs the Traité Grenade with Ferdinand II of Aragon governing the division of the Royaume of Naples: the Pouilles and the Calabria for the Spain, Naples, Ploughing and the the Abruzzi for France.

In 1501, Naples must face the double Franco-Spanish offensive so that the king of Naples must capitulate the September 26th 1501. Frederic of Naples takes refuge near the king of France, which n the other hand allots the title of to him Duc of Anjou of its renouncement of the kingdom of Naples.

During same time, and with the agreement of France, César Borgia, wire of Alexandre VI, took possession of the totality of the pontifical Romagna (1500), then duchy of Urbino (June 1502). Louis XII opposes his inclinations to attack Florence. The December 31st 1502, it makes massacre the barons of the Famille Orsini with Senigallia.

In the kingdom of Naples, the occupation by the French of certain disputed territories involves a conflict with Spain as of 1502.

Alexandre VI dies in August 1503. Its successor, Black and white III, reigns only a few months, then it is a savage adversary of the Borgia, Jules II, which becomes pope. César Borgia must return the cities and fortress which it occupies and flees in Spain, where it is imprisoned, then will take refuge in Navarre. He dies in 1507.

The French defeats of Seminara, of Cérignole and Garigliano against Gonzalve de Cordoue, involve the loss of Naples and, on January 1st 1504, the capitulation of Gaëte.

In February 1504 is signed the Armistice of Lyon by which Louis XII gives up the kingdom of Naples to the profit of Ferdinand II of Aragon. Louis XII allowed thus the extension of Papacy and caused the installation of the Spaniards in Naples.

Fourth war of Italy (1508-1513)

In 1508, the Treated Cambric, leads to the fourth war of Italy. The Ligue of Cambric is directed against Venice and gathers the Papacy, which wants to recover some places of Romagna that Venice occupied in 1504, France, which wants to recover some Venetian places in Lombardy and the Saint Empire, which wants to recover some places in the the Friuli. In 1506, Jules II had already seized only Perugia and Bologna.

The Venetian ones refuse to yield to the papal ultimatum and the war bursts in May 1509. The French troops, ordered by Louis XII, assisted in person by Trivulzio and Chaumont, cross the border lombarde on May 9th, 1509 and beat the Venetian ones of Bartolomeo d' Alviano to the Bataille of Agnadel on May 14th.

Louis XII seizes immediately the lombardes cities which return to him, Maximilien made in the same way with his and Jules II occupies Romagna.

The Venetian troops are seized again however and, on July 15th, the Venetian ones which had been strengthened in Trévise, take again Padoue under the orders of Andréa Gritti. The Emperor comes to put the seat in front of the city on September 15th, but must raise it later 17 days,

Anxious of progress of Louis XII, the pope Jules II proclamation his will to drive out them of Italy. February 24th 1510, it raises the excommunication of Venice and the papal and Venetian troops will fight together to drive out the French of Italy, the Venetian ones gradually taking again their territories on the Dry land.

In May 1511, Louis XII takes Bologna and convenes a council in Pisa intended to relieve the pope. Jules II counteracts by his bubble Sacrosanctæ , convening a council in Lateran, by excommunicating the members of the council of Pisa.

October 5th, 1511, the pope forms the Sainte League with Spain and Venice, then the Swiss England and cantons, against France.

The French troops, ordered by Gaston de Foix, manage however to overcome the troops of the League: those must raise the head office of Bologna, evacuate Brescia which they had taken again and overcome the troops of the League on April 11th 1512 at the time of the battles of Ravenne. Gaston de Foix dies however during this battle and Jacques II of Chabannes, its successor, does not have his talents of general.

Instead of going on Rome, the French troops waste time to plunder Ravenne. The Spanish and pontifical troops have time to be seized again and the 18 000 Swiss soldiers arrive to Lombardy. In June 1512, the French completely evacuated Lombardy and Maximilien Sforza is placed on the ducal throne with Milan.

Jules II dies on February 20th 1513. He leaves with his successor Leon X a very strong papacy. The French, directed by Trémoille and Trivulzio, launch a new offensive and take again the majority of the cities of the duchy, of which Milan. This offensive is however put in failure in its turn, on June 6th, 1513, with the Bataille of Novare, is lost against the Swiss ones. The French troops evacuate once again the Milanais and pass by again in France to face a new danger.

To north, the English launch the offensive starting from Calais in Picardy, while the Swiss ones launch the offensive in Burgundy. The French cavalry is beaten with the Bataille of Guinegatte the August 16th 1513 vis-a-vis the English of Henri VIII. This last occupies then Thérouanne. The Swiss ones put the seat in front of Dijon. To the south, the Pile cluster, ordering the Aragoneses, launches the offensive against the Navarre. It conquers all the country in the south of the Pyrenees, constraining Jean d' Albret to make retirement. The September 14th, Louis II of Trémoille sign the Treated of Dijon by which it buys the departure of Swiss and gives up his claims on Italy in the name of the king Louis XII. This last does not ratify this treaty.

Louis XII definitively lost Italy. The recovery of these territories will be entrusted to its successor, François I {{er}}.

Fifth war of Italy (1515-1516)

Crowned king de France the January 25th 1515, François I {{er}} gathers money for a new forwarding in order to take again the duchy of Milan. It personally does not have any right on the duchy, but is made give by notary those of his wife, Claude of France. It signs treaties with the king of England Henri VIII, the prince of the Burgundian Netherlands Charles (future Charles Quint) and the République of Venice.

The Swiss ones hold the duchy, in the name of its young duke Maximilien Sforza. They obtain the support, on February 7th, 1515, of the emperor Maximilien Ier of Habsbourg and Ferdinand II of Aragon for the protection of the Milanese. The pope Leon X, more anxious to defend the interests of his family with Florence adheres to the agreement only on July 15th. Actually only the Swiss ones are ready to defend the duke of Milan, the emperor closing the eyes on engagement by François Ier of more than 15 000 lansquenets German.

The Swiss ones prepare with the French invasion of installing garrisons in the Piedmont, with the outlets traditional of the French Armies, Suse and Pignerol, by the Col of the Mount-Cenis and the Montgenèvre. The French take a new way however to come to Italy, the Col of Larche, and thus force the Swiss ones to make retirement to defend the Lombardy.

During the summer, the king of France promises with the Confédérés of enormous money sums in exchange of the abandonment of the duchy of Milan. The Swiss ones hesitate, then refuse. Swiss and French then clash September 13rd and 14th 1515 at the time of the Bataille of Marignan. The French are victorious and can quickly take the control of the whole of Lombardy. France and Papacy then sign the Concordat of Bologna which will govern the relationship between the two powers until the French revolution, reinforcing the weight of the king in the Église gallicane.

August 13rd, 1516, Charles de Habsbourg, become king d' Espagne with died of his grandfather Ferdinand II of Aragon, recognizes in France the possession of the Milanese, against the abandonment of any French claim on Naples: it is the peace of Boundary-line.

It was more difficult for the king of France to get along with the Swiss ones divided. In January 1516, eight cantons decide to accept the conditions of the king, five others authorize the emperor to be recruited for a new forwarding in Italy. Finally the November 29th 1516, a perpetual peace is signed between the Confederation and France. The king of France could again engage of Swiss in his army. A durable peace seems to settle in Italy.

Six wars of the Valois/Habsbourg duel

Sixth war of Italy (1521-1526)

Seventh war of Italy (1526-1529)

Eighth war of Italy (1536 - 1538)

With the beginning of the year 1530, François I {{er}} prefers to support the enemies of the Emperor, as the league of the German Protestant princes (Ligue of Smalkalde) or the Ottoman Empire, with which it will make several times alliance.

Charles Quint, on the contrary, is presented more and more in the form of a defender of the faith. In June 1535, it takes again the Tunisia and, one year later, the April 5th 1536, it makes a triumphal entry with Rome, accommodated by the pope Paul III. The emperor and the pope agree on the organization of a council to bring back the German Protestant princes in the catholic bosom.

François Ier does not want and had benefitted from it from died from the duke of Milan, on November 1st 1535, to assert the heritage of the duchy. At the beginning of 1536, 40 000 French soldiers invade the Savoy and stop at the border lombarde, François Ier hoping to find a solution negotiated. Savoy and the Piedmont will remain French possession until in 1559. In February, the king of France manages to sign a treaty of alliance with the Othoman sultan.

Charles Quint sets out again of Tunis and makes a triumphal entry in Rome in April 1536 then invades the Provence in June 1536. The French Army must reprocess, but Montmorency inaugurates the scorched earth policy. An offensive of Imperial in Picardy is stopped by the French. In September, the Spaniards must leave France without to have fought the least battle.

Transitory truces and conflicts follow one another without true results, Italy becoming less and less important. In June 1538 truce a ten years is signed, following the interview of Acute-Dead. The pope Paul III, which played a role of mediator in this truce, pushes the two sovereigns to be left in crusade against the Turks.

Ninth war of Italy (1542-1546)

François Ier, combined to the Turks takes again the hostilities later 4 years in reaction to the violation of the agreements by Charles Quint which gave the Milanais to his/her son, Philippe, in November 1540. François Ier sends an army ordered by the duke of Orleans on the Netherlands, another army ordered by Of Bellay on the Milanese and another army ordered by the dolphin on Roussillon. The French on all fronts fail in 1542. The England engages in the conflict at the side of Charles Quint so that France makes play its ancestral alliance with the Scotland. Jacques V of Scotland is beaten by the English of Norfolk to Solway Moss the November 24th 1542.

In August 1543, the French of the Duc of Enghien make the seat of Nice, assisted by the Turkish fleet of Khayr AD-DIN Barberousse. The city goes except the citadel. The duke of Enghien continuation the offensive in the south and beats the Imperial ones with the Bataille of Cérisoles the April 11th 1544. This victory makes pass the Montferrat to France. While France is successes in the south, it must face an important danger in north. Henri VIII of England and Charles Quint get along for a joint offensive in the north and the east of France. Henri VIII launches an offensive starting from Calais and comes to besiege Boulogne. Charles Quint launches an offensive in Champagne and threatens Paris.

The September 18th 1544, François Ier and Charles Quint sign the Traité of Crépy-in-Laonnois. François Ier preserves the Savoy and the Piedmont but must give up its claims on the Artois, the Flanders, the Milanais and Naples. Charles Quint gives up his claims on the duchy of Burgundy. The third wire of François Ier, Charles of Orleans, is seen been engaged with a girl of the emperor with the Milanais in prerogative.

The war continues between France and England. The latter must wipe several failures against the Scottish troops and the French fleet. The June 7th 1546 is signed the Traité of Ardres between François Ier and Henri VIII by whom this last restores Boulogne in France against a ransom.

Tenth war of Italy (1552-1556)

Henri II thus approached the powers which could counterbalance that of the emperor. The pope Paul III Farnèse needed France to install his ambitious family. In March 1547, the pontiff had decided to transfer the council from Thirty to Bologna, before suspending it in September 1549: nevertheless work on the faith and the discipline was already largely outlined. Henri II decided to gain the Piedmont, in August 1548, of which it was estimated legitimates it owner from now on: indeed, contrary to his engagements, his/her father François Ier had not returned this territory on other side of the the Alps. The Piedmontese one held to the king warm welcome. New agreements were also signed with the Swiss ones.

However in 1550 the new pope Jules III (1550 - 1555) was favorable to the imperial cause. He had again convened the bishops with Thirty for 1551, with the great dissatisfaction with king de France who was considered very able to reform itself his Church. The pope passed to the offensive by threatening the house Farnèse, that of his predecessor, who was protected from France. Henri II had also maintained excellent relations with the sultan Soliman and it accepted from him in 1551 the assistance of a fleet. Finally the pope capitulated to the French threats. The pressure of France and the threat of the armies Lutherans which approached Thirty led to a new suspension of the council. Thus the policy of Henri II had held in failure the pope and the emperor, and had at the same time affirmed the presence and the Frenchwomen influence in the Holy roman Empire and in Italy, as well by military operations as by diplomatic operations.

But the international situation remained unstable. In April 1552, Henri II seizes the Three bishoprices of Metz, Toul and Verdun. In Italy, the town of His had driven out its Spanish garrison the July 26th 1552 and had required the French intervention. It was for France the occasion to open a new face: this war of His lasted three years. In October, Charles Quint tries to take again the Three bishoprices and puts the seat in front of Metz, but the city, defended by François de Guise, resists and the Imperial ones raise the seat in January 1553. In 1553, French and Turks, who support the Corsicans, revolted against Génois, unload on the island.

The town of His, defended by Monluc, finally had to capitulate the April 17th 1555. Spain yields His to Florence but preserves chair them Tuscan of Piombino and Ortobello. It was for France the end of a Tuscan dream.

The emperor accepted the Trêve of Vaucelles the February 15th 1556, it left in Henri II the Savoy, the Piedmont, Metz, Toul and Verdun, as the Corsica which had been conquered.

Eleventh war of Italy (1556-1559)

The truce of Vaucelles, if favorable to France, was broken by the intrigues of the pope Paul IV Carafa (1555-1559). It was Neapolitan very hostile with the Spanish occupation. It thus wished to be combined to the French against Habsbourg which it struck even of excommunication. The duke François de Guise arrived to Italy at the beginning of 1557, but this forwarding appeared vain and ruinous for the State. The pope was constrained as of autumn 1557 to make peace with Spain, whose presence in Italy was solid. By breaking the truce, Henri II exposed himself to a resumption of the war of north on January 31st, 1557. The queen Marie Tudor followed her husband Philippe II in the confrontation. The Spanish army misled the vigilance of the French and succeeds in besieging Saint-Quentin which was dismantled defenders. The admiral de Coligny succeeds in slipping there. To help its nephew, the constable of Montmorency prepared an immense operation of help which failed: the army was decimated and the captive constable on August 10th, 1557. This “day of the St. Lawrence” was a Spanish victory, as much psychological than strategic. The road of Paris was opened, but the Spaniards preferred to obtain the capitulation of Saint-Quentin: after a savage resistance, Coligny had to go. It nevertheless had delayed the Spanish advance and had prevented the invasion. The only general who remained in Henri II, it was François de Guise who it made return from Italy. This one took on January 6th, 1558 by surprised Calais, English since 1347. The competition between the Own way and Montmorency was sharpened a little more. To continue the war, Henri II decided to join together in January 1558 of the General states or rather an assembly of the notable ones. To go more quickly, the clergy was represented by the bishops and the archbishops, the nobility by the baillifs and seneshals, the third state by the mayors and aldermen. The catch of Calais stimulated energies. The king was worried more and more religious situation of the kingdom. Philippe II wanted him to also fight against progress of Protestantism in Europe. The death of Marie Tudor and the advent of Elisabeth I {{Re}} on November 17th, 1558 weakened the Spanish position more especially as Elisabeth refused Philippe like husband and joined Protestantism. April 2nd, 1559, France signed the treaty with England and on April 3rd that with Spain and Savoy: it is the peace of Cateau-Cambrésis.

See too

Large captains of the wars of Italy

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